The sprawling dense jungles of the Kumaon district adjoining the Jim Corbett National Park, provided an ideal setting for our team building effort. The programme was held in the tented camps set up by Wildrift one of the many companies that specialise in out door activity.
An interlude in the programme permitted us a foray into the jungle. We were divided into 4 Jeeps for the Safari. Though September was not the best season to sight Tigers, we however did spot other denizens of the jungle.
A Cheetal suddenly appeared on the track that we were travelling on. As the jeep approached it, the deer with an exquisite grace of an athlete effortlessly cleared a 2 meter mound and disappeared into the dense under growth-an essential attribute to possess in the amphitheater of the jungle where the only law that prevails is the law of claw and fangs.
There are 2 types of people who come on a Safari. The alert ones say, "There! There!" the more sluggish respond with "Where? Where?" So it was that when our guide suddenly stopped the jeep and pointed to the hollow of a tree, after many "wheres" we spotted a giant monitor lizard basking in the sun. It was so effectively camouflaged against the background of the tree that it was impossible to spot it at first glance. How the guide manage to spot it beats me.
Next we spotted a giant owl, perched on a tree and looking away from us.On sensing our presence it turned a full 180 degrees and stared at us piercingly with unblinking eyes. It gave me quite a turn (no pun intended). It reminded me of the little girl possessed by the devil in the film, 'The Exorcist.'
Back at the Camp a canal of water one and a half meter wide and half a meter in depth flowed from the hills to the fields in a gentle gradient. Each of us were given a life jacket and made to lie face upwards in the canal afloat. The force of the current pushed us down the gradient all the down to the fields. as you float down, all you van see is the dense foliage of overhanging trees in various shades of green interspersed with the deep blue sky.
Joining up with these camps are fun. You get to do many activities that you normally cannot when you are on your own. In one of the outings we had walked in the river, knee deep, for several kilometers. When you are with the group it can be boisterously fun!
An interlude in the programme permitted us a foray into the jungle. We were divided into 4 Jeeps for the Safari. Though September was not the best season to sight Tigers, we however did spot other denizens of the jungle.
A Cheetal suddenly appeared on the track that we were travelling on. As the jeep approached it, the deer with an exquisite grace of an athlete effortlessly cleared a 2 meter mound and disappeared into the dense under growth-an essential attribute to possess in the amphitheater of the jungle where the only law that prevails is the law of claw and fangs.
There are 2 types of people who come on a Safari. The alert ones say, "There! There!" the more sluggish respond with "Where? Where?" So it was that when our guide suddenly stopped the jeep and pointed to the hollow of a tree, after many "wheres" we spotted a giant monitor lizard basking in the sun. It was so effectively camouflaged against the background of the tree that it was impossible to spot it at first glance. How the guide manage to spot it beats me.
Next we spotted a giant owl, perched on a tree and looking away from us.On sensing our presence it turned a full 180 degrees and stared at us piercingly with unblinking eyes. It gave me quite a turn (no pun intended). It reminded me of the little girl possessed by the devil in the film, 'The Exorcist.'
Back at the Camp a canal of water one and a half meter wide and half a meter in depth flowed from the hills to the fields in a gentle gradient. Each of us were given a life jacket and made to lie face upwards in the canal afloat. The force of the current pushed us down the gradient all the down to the fields. as you float down, all you van see is the dense foliage of overhanging trees in various shades of green interspersed with the deep blue sky.
Joining up with these camps are fun. You get to do many activities that you normally cannot when you are on your own. In one of the outings we had walked in the river, knee deep, for several kilometers. When you are with the group it can be boisterously fun!
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